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This article was published on Monday, 30 May, 2016. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.

No significant passenger rail improvements on the horizon for Greater Shepparton

Posted on Monday 30th of May, 2016,

The Andrews Labor Government today released the first ever long-term strategy for public transport in regional Victoria, with Greater Shepparton receiving only minor immediate service improvements.

The Connecting Regional Victoria – Victoria’s Regional Network Development Plan (RNDP) sets out a short, medium and long-term plan with the aim of a more co-ordinated and connected public transport network across regional Victoria.

Ultimately the plan serves to provide more trains, improved stations and better bus and coach services, in providing quicker, reliable and safe public transport services for regional Victoria.

In developing the plan a series of workshops were held across regional Victoria, with the Shepparton session being the most well attended. Despite consistently raising the need for quicker travel times between Shepparton and Melbourne, extended train service hours to accommodate for earlier starts and late finishes and more comfortable trains, the sense of urgency is not recognised in the government’s initial commitments.

“A lack of a definite commitment to significantly improving passenger rail services between Shepparton and Melbourne again reinforces that we are not recognised as a major regional city like our regional counterparts such as Bendigo, Ballarat and the La Trobe Valley”, suggests Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Cr Dinny Adem.

“We are grateful for an additional daily train service between Seymour and Shepparton and some cosmetic treatment for some of the classic train fleet that services Greater Shepparton, however it’s still a long way off providing quicker and increased services to meet the needs of our community and services that support Greater Shepparton to be more competitive, attract further investment and position our city as being even more liveable”, explains Cr Adem.

Extra passing loops, track, train stabling and signalling upgrades on the Shepparton line to allow for more train services and freight are detailed in the plan however there is no timeframe or funding committed to.

“Significant upgrades to our Shepparton to Melbourne line such as removal of level crossings and creation of the Murchison passing loop to enable faster trains are long overdue. We have aspirations to increase investment and visitation to our region, however the current antiquated service inhibits this,” suggests Cr Adem.

For a copy of Connecting Regional Victoria and more information, visit transport.vic.gov.au/rndp

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